Nintendo Wii U - what's next?

Gamesindustry asked Parks Associates to comment on rumors about the upcoming Nintendo Wii U. Will the new console be successful even if it is less powerful than current-generation consoles? Will a price of $300+ be too high? As a research analyst, I was asked to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of the Nintendo console and its chances for success in the current market.

In order to be successful, the Wii U will have to prove that the new tablet controller creates truly unique gameplay. The console will also need a good lineup of games at launch. Yet, both these factors may not be enough to make the Wii U appealing to core gamers, especially if new Xbox and PlayStation consoles are launched in the near future. In addition, a price tag of $300 or more will make this console the most expensive ever launched by the Japanese manufacturer, potentially a strong disadvantage when casual gamers have options, such as Kinect, tablets, and smartphones, priced at the same level or less.